Cushioning connection for vehicles construction



Jan. 8, 1929.

- J. M. STEELE CUSHIONING CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Fild Feb. 17, 1927 3 Sheer'=-SQet LIDEIEF'H TEELE- BY 8g 7 A TTORN E Y5.

Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,006

J. M. STEELE CUSHiONING CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 1'7, 192"! 3 Sheets-Shepet 2 33 32 30 3 7 *1 HEEL- INVENTOR- NUEEPH METEELL A TTORNEYS- Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,006

' J. M. STEELE CUSHIONING CONNECTION FOR VEHlCLH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb, 17, 192'? s sheets-sheet 5 7 TED 30 FIGJE- d9\ I 67 &5 ET

' INVENTOR. JOSEPH IVLETEELL.

QQVQMKN A TTORNEYS- fPatented Jan. 8, 1929.

FJVFUNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

JOSEPH STEELE, OF STOW. OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'IO JOHN R. GAMMETER, OF AKRON,

OHIO.

CUSHIONING CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 17, 1927.

This invention relates to cushioned connections between units of automobiles.

The general purpose of the invention is to improve upon such cushioned connections as have heretofore been employed by avoiding the use of expensive metal housings for the cushioning elements and the formation of interlocking metalparts and molded nonmetallic cushioning elements which are expensive to manufacture and which are subject to wear in use due to relative movement between the metal and non-metallic parts.

Particularly the invention contemplates a connection in which the metal and non-metallic parts are bonded together so as to be integral, there being no metallic contact between the units connected thereby and all the relative movement between the units being absorbed by the cushioningmaterial without relative movement between the surfaces thereof and the metal parts to which it is bonded to cause wearing of the cushioning material by surface abrasion thereof.

The foregoing and other objects are obtamed by the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. It is to be understood that tl1e.invention is not limited to the specific forms thereof-shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a spring mounting for a vehicle chassis on a front axle in which connections embodying the invention are shown between the axle and spring and between the spring and the chassis;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a modified form of connection between the axle and spring;

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, of a connection embodying the invention in an underslung spring mounting;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the connection between the rear of the spring mounting and the chassis as shown in igure 1; Figure 7'is a section on line 77 of Figurefi;

Figure 8 is a detailside elevation of the 1 connection between the front end of the used Serial No. 168,926.

spring mounting and the chassis as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a section Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a. plan of a motor and a mounting therefor in a chassis in which connections or supports embodying the invention are employed between the motor and chassis;

Figure 11 is a front end elevation thereof, partly in section;

F igure 12 is an enlarged section along line l2-12 of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a section Figure 12.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a spring 10 is connected to axle 11 by the connection 12 which includes a cushioning element of tough, live or resilient rubber 13 bonded by vulcanization to metal connecting plates 14 and 15 on each side thereof, the plates 14 and 15 each having extending portions 14 and 15 providing flanges on the connection 12 by which it may be connected to spring 10 as by U-bolts 16 and to the axle 11 as by bolts 17. The element 13 is sutliciently thick to provide the :desired cushioning qualities and the bolts 16 and 17 are preferably offset from each other as shown to insure against contacting with each other during relative yielding movement between the axle and spring. As shown in Figure 2, the upper plate 14 for safety purposes 'may have elements 18 thereon extending downwardly about and under the ends of plate 15 in embracing relation thereto, but out of contact therewith.

An underslung spring mounting, such as on a rear axle is shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this type of mounting spring 20 is connected by U-bolts 23 to upper plate 22 of the cushion connection 21, the lower plate 24 of the connection being connected by U-bolts 25 to axle 26 which is supported in a cradle 27 in turn supported on the lower plate 24 by spacer sleeves 28 on bolts .26.

lates 22 and 24 are bonded by vulcanization to the opposite sides of the rubber cushioning element indicated at. 29. Members 18 similar to members 18 may also be used on this connection.

In Figures 6 and '7, the details of a .con nection 31 between; on end of the spring 10 and the chassis are illustrated, The upon line 9 9 of along line 1313 of per - a web 64 adapted ,upper plate 65 of the cushioned connection late 32 of the connection is bolted to the c assis 30 at 33 and 34. The lower plate 35 is a ertured centrally at 36 and is formed with anges 37 to strengthen the plate and provided with alpertured lugs 38 for the reception of a s' ackle bolt 39 arranged in aperture 36 and on which the shackle 40 is pivoted. In this form of the invention the rubber cushion on which plates 34 and 35 are bonded is in two sections 41 vulcanized onto the lower plate 35 on eachside of aperture 36. This construction is such as to support the chassis as low as possible. niembers 18 are illustrated on this connection a so. 7

The front spring connection shown in Figures 8 and 9 comprises an upper plate 50 pivoted to the chassis 30 at 51 and a lower plate 52 similar to plate 35 and having flanges thereon similar to flanges 37 in the apertured lugs 53 of which the shackle bolt 54 is inserted on which one end of spring 10 is supported by insertion of bolt 54 through the usual eye or loop in the end of the spring. In this form also the cushioning element plates 50 and 52 on each side of the aperture through which the bolt 54 extends. Members 18 similar to members 18 are arranged on the plate 50 so as to embrace plate 52.

Use of the improved connection as a motor support in the vehicle is shown in Figures 9 to 12. The motor housing is supported on the side members 30 of the chassis at three points. At these points the support is afforded by cushioned connections indicated at 61, and 62, 62. The connection 61 at the forward end of the motor consists in a forwardly extending sleeve 63 formed with to seat the sleeve 63 on the to which it is secured by bolts 66. The lower plate 67 of the connection is bolted onto a cross beam 68 extending between chassis member 30. The rubber cushion material 69 of the connection is vulcanized to and integral with plates and 67.

At the rear of the motor each of connections 62 are provided by-bolting the ends of the cross beam 70 onto the upper plates 71 of connections 62 and by bolting the lower plates 72 of said connections to the channels 30 of the chassis, additional support for the connection preferably being provided for by L-shaped brackets 73 through the horizontal member of which the bolts in plate 72 extend, the vertical members of brackets on its sides shaped as shown Members 18 similar to is in sections 55 vulcanized to both- 73 being bolted to the web of channel members 30. The rubber cushioning material 74 'is integral with plates 71 and 7 2.

It will appear that in all forms of the connections, the rubber cushioning material provides an entirely non-metallic connection between the. units which absorb the shocks. preventing crystallization and fracture of the metal parts, preventing the noises incident torelative movement of metal. parts, and requiring no lubrication. All relative movement of the part or units connected by these improved connections is ab-' sorbed within the body of the cushioning material which is thus constantly being flexed tending to resilient. The integral or bonded conneckeep the rubber lively and tion between the rubber and the metal parts entirely eliminates wear since relative movemcnt of the rubber and metal parts cannot take place.

Modifications of the invention other than those disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cushioned connection for vehicle constructions including a metal member adapted to be secured to one unit of the vehicle, a second metal member adapted to be secured to another unit of the vehicle, an element of non-metallic; cushioning material arranged between and bonded by vulcanization so as to be integral with said members, and means secured to one member adapted to embrace, but not contact with, the other member.

2. A cushioned connection for vehicle constructions including a metal member adapted to be secured to one unit of the vehicle, a second metal member adapted to be secured to another unit of the vehicle, an element of rubber cushioning material arranged between and vulcanized to said members so as to be bonded thereto, and means secured to one member adapted to embrace, but not contact with, the other member.

3. A cushioned connection for vehicle constructions including a metal member adapted to be secured to one unit of the 'vehicle, a second metal member adapted to be secured to another unit of the vehicle, and an element of rubber cushioning material arranged between and vulcanized so as to be bonded to said members, and means secured to one member adapted to embrace, but not contact with, the other member.

JOSEPH M. STEELE. 

